A vibrant, progressive family-owned winery in the premier wine region of McLaren Vale, Loom Wine work closely with various growers and distinguished vineyards throughout South Australia. An entrepreneur and mercurial spirit, Steve Grimley has always been connected to numerous and varied business enterprises. He grew up in the vineyards of South Australia – and simply knows everybody in the business. Winemaking royalty Matt Koch and Andrea Maxwell make up the other two thirds of this incredibly talented team. Made from a single site on the Southern Range in the Adelaide Hills, the exceptional 96pt Loom Long Yarn Shiraz certainly impressed the judges at the Royal Queensland Wine Awards where it took home a Top Gold. Seductive aromatics of dark fruits with a palate that knocks you back with a flex of crunchy acidity and tight tannins that linger. A great partner to fresh organic tomato-based dishes.

Clare Valley’s Jim Barry is a name known around the world – a byword for quality and wine expertise. A founding member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, the Barry family celebrated the 60th anniversary of its winery in 2020, the year it also scooped the title of Halliday’s ‘Winery of the Year’. Over three generations the Barry name has been famous throughout the wine world and synonymous with the Clare Valley. Jim Barry bought his first vineyard here in 1959, and even helped the Taylor family open their winery a decade later. Son Peter took over Jim Barry in 1985, and today brothers Tom and Sam, with sister Olivia, have raised the bar even higher.Their range includes flawless Riesling (think Florita), unique Assyrtiko – a Greek white grape Peter introduced to Australia in 2016 – and exciting reds, including the iconic $350+ Armagh Shiraz. Tom (Gourmet Traveller WINE’s Young Winemaker of the Year 2013) and the impressively bearded Sam continue to push boundaries in style and flavour. "Clare Valley Shiraz is about brightness of fruit. The Eastern Ranges vineyard is one of the Clare Valley’s highest Shiraz vineyards and produces medium bodied Shiraz with bright red and purple fruit and lots of energy and freshness" says winemaker Tom Barry.

The Clare Valley's dynamic Claymore Wines celebrates a love of wine, music and football (of the round ball type). Their labels celebrate some of the winemaker's favourite albums and songs. Who are you is a deceptively attractive 93pts blend (65% Shiraz and 35% Mataro) taking an old school work-horse variety (Mataro) to pump up the volume on classic Clare Valley Shiraz... this is classy, complex and finely crafted. "... with plump mouthfeel backed by silky texture and beautifully melded tannins, offering excellent drinking. 93pts” (Sam Kim Wine Orbit). Ray Jodan, Wine Pilot agrees: "The seductive appeal is evident immediately the vibrant burst of red fruits leaps from the glass. A spicy and slightly savoury edge sits snuggly with the plump plummy cherry flavours of the palate. There’s a delicious, sweet fruit character on the finish. It’s a super combination that provides such excellent drinking in the short to medium term".

If you were hanging out in South Australia in the 1880’s, you’d know Pikes for their beers. Fast forward 100 years and and several generations and the Pike family has firmly established themselves as one of the premier wine producers in the Clare Valley. Hops and grapevines, a rather abstract take on the tradition family tree. Their Cottage shiraz speaks loudly of the Clare style - a bit less dense than wines from the neighbouring Barossa, but still deep and concentrated with all the hallmarks of an Aussie’s favourite red.

Tucked away nicely in the Adelaide Hills, Sidewood Estate have made an art form out of crafting some of the very best single vineyard cool-climate wines available in Australia. Owen and Cassandra Inglis purchased the boutique property in 2004 and immediately set about making their vision become a reality. Their Sidewood Shiraz displays that vision to perfection. Attention to detail is the key here which enables flavours of red cherry, currants and dark plum to shine through along with hints of cinnamon and spice. The texture is beguiling and gives promise to a wine that will age for up to a decade.

Taylors Shiraz continues to be one of the most outstanding value for money Shiraz available. Widely acclaimed by many critics, this Shiraz is true to its region and variety, showing ripe plum and blackberry fruit with minty notes in the background. A touch of vanillin oak adds some wonderful interest.

In just a few short decades, the Taylor family have etched out a formidable reputation for producing high quality wine from their Clare Valley vineyards. This textbook Merlot captures the varietal characters of berries, fruitcake and velvety tannins. The judicious use of French and American oak adds mocha and vanilla softens and rounds the palate.

Taylors produce a surprise packet of a Pinot Noir at a very attractive price. Bright cherry colour complemented by a nose of strawberry and spice. Flavours of ripe cherries follow and lingers nicely on the palate.